New Book of Portraits Spotlights New York City's Most Stylish Bicycle Riders

Sam Polcer

Brooke Porter Katz

April 01, 2014

Few could argue the fact that New York is one of the most fashionable cities in the world—and thanks to the book New York Bike Style (April 1; $29.95; Prestel), it’s clear that its residents don’t sacrifice their sartorial flair when on two wheels. Brooklyn-based photographer Sam Polcer took to his own teal Lotus 10-speed from the late '80s, seeking out stylish riders across the five boroughs.

Sam Polcer

The result: 224 pages of vibrant portraits that illustrate diversity in both the people and type of bikes they ride. “Cyclists are some of the most interesting and creative people in New York—especially the ones that dress well,” Polcer says. “And like in the city itself, there’s a little bit of everything: cutting edge, classic, pretty, gritty, dressy, casual.” The book also includes a conversation with David Byrne, an avid cyclist and author of the memoir Bicycle Diaries—but, really, the photographs do most of the talking.

Brooke Porter Katz is an Associate Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @brookeporter1.